Mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund: assistance to Romania and Italy in relation to natural disasters in 2022 and to Türkiye in relation to the earthquakes in February 2023

PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to assist Romania and Italy following natural disasters in 2022, and Turkey following earthquakes in February 2023.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

BACKGROUND: the European Union Solidarity Fund, set up by Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002, aims to enable the Union to respond in a rapid, efficient and flexible manner to emergency situations in order to show solidarity with the population of regions struck by major or regional natural disasters or major public health emergency.

- On 6 September 2022, Romania submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following the drought in the summer of 2022. The Romanian authorities estimate the total direct damage caused by the disaster at EUR 1.31 billion. Romania estimated the cost of operations eligible at EUR 34.69 million and presented it broken down by type of operation. The largest share of the cost of emergency operations (over EUR 22.35 million) concerns rescue services, including firefighting actions, supply of water to the population and to the affected agricultural fields.

- On 8 December 2022, Italy submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following the flood in the Marche Region in September 2022. The Italian authorities estimate the total direct damage caused by the disaster at EUR 837.56 million. Italy estimated the cost of operations eligible at EUR 169.07 million and presented it broken down by type of operation. The largest share of the cost of emergency operations (over EUR 67.57 million) concerns temporary accommodation and rescue services.

- On 20 April 2023, Türkiye submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following the earthquakes in February 2023. The Turkish authorities estimate the total direct damage caused by the disaster at EUR 81.7 billion. Türkiye estimated the cost of operations eligible at EUR 15.109 billion and presented it broken down by type of operation. The largest share of the cost of emergency operations (EUR 9.1 billion) concerns restoration to working order of infrastructure in the fields of health, education, transportation, and others.

The above-mentioned applications meet the conditions for providing a financial contribution from the Fund.

CONTENT: this proposed decision covers the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 for an amount of EUR 454 835 030 to provide assistance to Romania and Italy in relation to the natural disasters that took place in these countries in 2022 and to Türkiye in relation to the earthquakes in February 2023.

For the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2023, the European Union Solidarity Fund will be mobilised as follows in commitment and payment appropriations in relation to natural disasters:

- the amount of EUR 33 895 935 will be provided to Romania in relation to the drought in summer 2022;

- the amount of EUR 20 939 095 will be provided to Italy in relation to the flood in the Marche Region in September 2022;

- the amount of EUR 400 000 000 will be provided to Türkiye in relation to the earthquakes in February 2023.

This mobilisation is accompanied by DEC No 10/2023 that proposes to transfer the amount of EUR 446 836 375 from the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve line to the EUSF operational budget line, both in commitments and payments.

In addition to the transferred appropriations from the SEAR reserve line, this mobilisation will be financed through the use of the amount of EUR 7 998 655 in commitments and payment appropriations already inscribed in the General Budget 2023.